Apparatus and method for packing pulverulent material



July 26, 1960 c, HoBB|E ETAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKING PULVERULENT MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1958 ur m max N aa v m N. 1c Mr J 7. m 8 1 m J B July 26, 1960 A. c. HOBBIE ETAL 2,946,357

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKING PULVERULENT MATERIAL Filed March 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 4435?? C. "/0884? 1 JOSEPH W HOLDCZAIT rrow/n United States APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKHIG PULVERULENT MATERIAL Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,697

15 Claims. (Cl. 141-5) This invention relates to apparatus for filling pulverulent, more or less areated, material into containers and it has particular relation to apparatus for filling such material into containers by use of which the material is tightly packed with but little escape of particles into the atmosphere.

It has heretofore been suggested to pack pulverulent materials, such as flour, cement, lime, talc, insecticides, fungicides and many other pulverulent materials into containers, such as shipping containers, by allowing the materials to flow from a supply hopper into the containers through a spout provided with an appropriate gate device permitting the rate of flow to be regulated or to be stopped or started as required.

It has also been suggested to feed pulverulent material from a hopper or like receptacle through a tube into a container by means of a screw conveyor operating at low speed; e.g., 100 or 300 revolutions per minute.

Containers canreadily be filled by use of such'apparatus. However, serious problems are encountered in the use of the apparatus. For example, air, loaded with the pulverulent material, tends to escape about the spout or the screw conveyor as the case may be and thus produces loss of valuable material as well as problems of atmospheric contamination.

It has also been proposed to provide seals between the walls of the containers and the spouts or conveyors employed for filling the same, for purposes of reducing the escape of pulverule'nt material. One such sealing device comprises a doughnut-like, flexible pneumatic tube resembling an inner tube of an automobile tire which is disposed about the spout or conveyor. This tube is adapted to be expanded to provide a seal between the spout or conveyor and the container walls. Escape of dust is thus reduced, but it will be apparent that in the filling operation, air must somehow force its way from the container and may thus carry away suspended particles of the powdered material and discharge it to the atmosphere. Another serious defect of the previously-used apparatus resides in the fact that but little packing of the material in the container is produced. If a spout is used to fill the container, the material only drops into the container by gravity and still includes much entrapped air.' The air seriously reduces the volume of material that can be introduced into the container thereby increasing container costs as well as the costs of shipping, handling an storing.

The use of a screw conveyor in the filling operation does not greatly enhance the packing of the material into the container. A conveyor as ordinarily used is driven at slow speed (previously mentioned) of the order of 100 or 300 revolutions per minute, and as mentioned, the screw is of about the same diameter as the internal diameter of the tube in which it runs. Appreciable backpressure on a screw opera-ting under these conditions results in blocking and stoppage of the feed. A pressure of 1 or 2 pounds (p.s.i.) upon the material being packed is near the maximum that such screw conveyor will exert.

atent mass ice

Moreover, this pressure is exerted almost entirely directly in front or coaxially with respect to the screw, with practically no radial or side pressure upon the material after it escapes from the conveyor into the container. But very little removal of entrapped gases and packing action can be obtained by this mode of filling.

In order to reduce the volume of entrapped air in pulverule-nt material, which has been filled into containers by conventional spouts or screw conveyors, it has been disclosed to subject the containers, after the filling operation, to vacuum, thus drawing off much air and reducing the volume of powder. This, however, is a time-consuming operation and requires special apparatus. The degree of packing which can thus be obtained is often unsatisfactory.

In Patent 1,553,539, A. G. Kinyon, it is disclosed to impart a sluggish flow like that of a viscous liquid to a pulverulent material by incorporating small amounts of air therewith. This process of causing pulverulent material to flow as a liquid does not appear to lend itself to packing such materials as above described because of the air introduced in order to obtain flow. Since the object of packing is to reduce the flow of air, the use of a Kinyon-type apparatus to obtain fluidity of the material so that it will flow laterally as well as forwardly would appear to be a step in the wrong direction.

In accordance with the provisions of this invention, an apparatus and a mode of operating the same are provided whereby the foregoing difiiculties are obviated and pulverulent material, such as those above described, or other pulverulent materials can be packed tightly into a container While the container is being filled. The use of the process and method of thisinvent-ion obviates the necessity of vacuum packing or other types of after the filling operation.

Main features of the invention comprise feeding the pulverulent material into the container under such conditions that it develops substantial pressure both laterally and axially and then removing any entrapped air from the material while it is under such pressure. The pressures, as developed, are resembled closely by hydrostatic pressures exerted upon a viscous fluid which, as is well known, are transmitted in all directions.

It has been found that this result is quite effectively attained by use of a screw-type conveyor operating-at high speeds. At such speeds the pulverulent material moves both axially and radially from the discharge end or mouth of the conveyor thus producing pressures not only in an axial direction but also laterally, thus efiecively packing the material across the entire diameter of the container. This actionis obtained even without the use of air to promote fluid flow of the powder.

For purposes of creating a backing against which the fluid pressure can act to compact the pulverulent material and to remove air already in the container before filling is started, it is preferable that the forward or discharge end of thescrew conveyor be inserted into the container to a point at which it is at, or near the bottom of the latter. The packing action is thus initiated even at the start of the filling operation. It is also desirable that the discharge end of the conveyor be provided with a combined sealing and filtering element which will hold the powder tightly in place as it is filled into the container, but which will permit air to escape after filtration of the pulverulent material therefrom. It is a further feature that as the container is filled, it is progressively backed away from the discharge end of the screw thus permitting the container to be filled from bottom to top with the compact material.

In the drawings, a

Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation-with certain parts packing I broken away for clarity, of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan but with certain parts also broken away, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

d k against which the fluid pressure exerted by the feed screw can act. threaded into the plate 45 to hold the latter in place while the ends of the rest of said bolts 44b extend through The ends 44cof some'of-the'bolts are signed to contain a' 'supply of pulverulent'rnaterial to be Fig. 3 is a -fragmentary 'sectionalyiew 'Qf Z POItlOIIDf 5 screen 46, the cloth 46a and at their tips are provided the apparatus shown in Figqlj d with washers and thin nuts 44c-superposed upon the Fig. 4 is an exploded, det-ail vi ew of certain mechawashers (not shown) to hold the screen in place. Renisms of the apparatus as shownfinlFigs. "1" and 2. I moval and replacementgofsa screen. and ,cloth'as'sembly Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modif ed form'of sealing is thus facilitated, if the'cloth is 'torninu'ser The screen device for containers. 10 46 is further jhe ld-in;place by an-annula securingidiscl-r v Inthe embodiment of the invention as disclosed in v 47 bolted: as.indicateda atWlVa to;..disc;45: Fig. l of the drawings, a main; longitudinal frameor Upon -the perimeter oi cylindrical ring'i'44 is disposed";- bed 20 is provided and if the apparatus is designed for an approximately toroidal expansible sealing tnbe -or diaportability,'--is disposed upon a st 'ot wheels or castors phragm 52 of rubbenor other fiexible,- impermeable ma- 21. --The latter' perrnit'the"mechanism to be wheeled terial. This tube should be securely attached; as by from job to] job orto be wheeled' to or from storage as cementing or vulcani'zing toL-prevent possibility of loosenmay be required. t ing of the tube by frictional drag set up by the walls A base or pedestal 22 is mounted upon-therear end; of the container as the latter moves backward during 7 of the longitudinal frame as a support for a-pump'hop the fillin'g fan'dpaclcingoperationt As shown inihed'ra per 23 uponwhichjsdisposed a supplyhopper 24 deingsJFigffB', these'alin'gtube' c'ompris'es'a wide"endl'els's"* band jof rubberabout; the cylindrical ring 44; andmm: ing whenifnfiat'ed gsubs'ta ntiallya toroidal -tube'.""1 he edges i Apparatus to convey material under fluid" pressure to of thefiltercloth 46a is doubled'over'th'eedges of" plate a container to be packed comprises a pump tribe 26 i 45 and are gripped between the latter ,and .the ends o'f which is flanged; at its rear end as indicated at 27 and is the tube 52. jAs indicated at'-'52a, if desired;ithe edges secured upon the face'of the pump hopper 23 by means of the band 52m'ay be formed with beads'ofi'rubber or of bolts 28 "A screw conveyor 29, acting as a pump, other material providingreinforcements which-are "ceis disposedto rotate in the pumptube 26 and terminates mented to the underside; of ring 44, thus holding the at its forward end ator near the terminus of the pump tube securely on the flange. The beads may'also include"" tube. The forward end of the'conveyor has no bearing grommets A of wire or other materialjjt'o act as reinforce other than the pump tube in which it rotates' at rel-a ments;" 7 tively high speed. The tube 52 is also provided with ahose-connection53 having a'3-wayvalye53a for the admission of air under-'- The screw conv eyor is' carried upon a drive shaft 31 which at its exposed'end, is disposed inbearings 32 and pressure to the sealing'tube"whereby"the"tube can 'be""' inflated or deflated at will.

33 upon apedestal 33g: upon main frame 20. It is'also g 7 provided with a"d'riving'element,'such as, a V-pulley 34 When a'container is mounted uponthe sealin'g tube,

fiuid'und'er pressure'can be admitted'tosaid'tube'to in= having a v belt 36 trainedthereahout. The belt is furv ther trained about a second V-pulley 37 uponthe shaft flat it'vvhereby to prevent the escape of air fromwithin' 38 of a drivingmotor 39 upon a platform'41 rigidly cont e Co a e P through 1 filtfifnected to the main frame 20. i y 40 pulverulent material suspended in the'escapingairis thus Thetube 26 and screw 29 are much smaller in diamt ib i d savedeter than the container :6 be filled." It is difficult aris-- it willvbe pp t in pe a sdiaphragm factorily to express the differences in numerical terms; 52 y (ll/6T1 be.imqateditosuchudegle that thetfrictional howeverfasl an approximate rule, it is'suggested that the drag"X6ITed'11p0n the inner- Walls of the containerd's ratios of the internal diameters of the containers to the en' o P d n g f'ispistaflc a'CkWai'd'move internal diameters of screw conveyor tube should be memlpf1h?lcm'liaifir'loQbT-aifi'adfiqiltepacking 5650 approximately in a range faBo t p t 1/ "This withinthecontainer'without relianc'e-uporrother bral;ing"--" range'pe'r rn'it s the provision of adequate sectional area. "1 devices-Q T betwe'efn'the walls of the tube 26am] the walls o f the ru m ma adcllmiildtsisiuliollffiltei'ibioflrz"" container a remove lt oa of, st epest a a filemeeof e emes we ere? the container or the pulve'rulent materiallcontained mcreases'lh'fi n Q ly 1 6 y therein. v become sothick -"and dense-astoreduceithe"ilovvof'air 5 A filtering and sealing element or head designated and thus it t dstointerfere-with-the:sp'eedofpf k fi generally zit-42 comprises spaced, parallel annular discs the r l l u m m T F i s3 and 43a, disposed upon the end of tube 26. These Parent th t a yen ers break a y discs are retained within the inner perimeter of a cylinnaturallyfmm l l L B E i' fi drical ring 44, which has an annular median web 44a the apparatus? butrilfdeslmd" 1t f i i m bored to receive through bolts 44b whereby to hold ,the Cally @Sffol examplefby scraping i discs 43 and 43a in said spaced relationship to form a nular The 'cakemay also be removed by air-pressure-intrw' baclcing chamber D. Lugs-43c are also provided upon t i y the sides of disc 43 and are tapped for set screws 43d 3 tq filter l? T t tn f adapted to retain the assembly upon the end of the tube condmt 54 with? chamber provldefi'wflh Era-Way J N valveSS-and a-pressin eline- 57 leading-Zo asource{not 26. The filtering and sealing head is disposed in sub- I l i stantially normal relationship to the axis of the tube 42. showm' of f an under'pressumfl" The Val"? also connects to vent line 57a.

packed Disc 43a is further provided with openings {Se adapted to permit the escape of filtered -air fromthe container being filled.

Filtering means for the assembly comprises a disc spaced slightly from the. disc 43a and being formed with perforations 45a through which-.filteredair can enter chamber D. The face of this disc is covered with a;

out suspended particles and also providing .-a backing-f operating the 3-Way. valve do. admit. aiiz underpressureto By appropriate manip'u lationof the3-way-valve; compressed airis admitted to the filter-backingchamber D drit'c'an' be permitted to" J escape .to thef-a'tmospher'ef During-normal" acking 615- I eratio'ns, the alve is set t'oj'vent thefilteredair fromthe container; When? the, cane .Cflhas tenement s'uch'ithicl ll.

- ness as to warrant it, it may be loosened-pneumaticallyby screen wire element 46 having an outerfilter cloth;46a 1, V,

tudinal cylinder '75 (see Fig.

For example, the apparatus may be used to pack containers substantially, solely by direct viscous fluid pressure afforded by the screw conveyor 29. The filter cake C that builds up may be allowed tobreak away naturally,

as it will from time to time, or it may be rernoved'me chanically'or by pneumatic pressure from the pressure line 57 at such times as it appears to be becoming too operation, the bottom of the container is stepped away from the annular filter disc in regular increments.- The stepping operation, preferably, is performed in such manner thatsubstantial free space is left'at each step between the annular filter diaphragm or the cake C thereupon and the face of the packed material in the container. As this free space is filled up with pulverulent material, the latter is compacted as a cake upon the annular filter disc and can be freed by the introduction of pressure into the filter-backing chamber D. By repeating these steps at proper intervals, the container is filled with a series of disc-like filter cakes assembled one upon the other.

It will be apparent that the conduit or connection 54 and valve 56 constitutes a refinement upon the apparatus. If preferred, the air may be allowed to exhaust from the filter directly to the atmosphere. To this end disc need be merely perforated at one or a plurality of points.

Apparatus for supporting and manipulating a container upon the pump tube 26 and filter and sealing element 42, comprises a carriage structure indicated at 58 which moves upon the main frame 20 and has a platform portion58a. Means to guide the carriage in its movements comprises side rails 59 mounted upon the main frame. The carriage includes vertical side skirts 61 upon platform 58a which are provided with guide, or anti-friction, rollers engaging the side rails. The guide rollers include pairs of horizontal rollers 62 upon axles 63 mounted in the side skirts 61 to engage the edges of the rails 59. The skirts may be reinforced to withstand the added strain created by the axles by means of vertical bars 64 se- 8 versely in bearings 94 upon carriage. The arms 91 are provided upon their opposite sides, with interconnecting cross bars 96 and 97; To the bar 96 are attached forwardly extending bars 98 designed to support between them the container 89. The arms 98 are braced to obtain adequate rigidity-by means of diagonal bars or braces 99 attached attheir lower extremities to the cross bar 97.

' It will be apparent that the space between the bars 98 maybe adjusted for purposes of accommodating various diameters of containers. the braces 99 are secured respectively to the cross bars 96 and 97 by releasable means, such as, bolts 101.

It is to be understood that in the packing of a container 89 by means of the apparatus shown, the carriage isinitially retracted toward hopper 24 so that the mouth of the container is approximately at the position indicated, in broken line as P in Fig. 1 and so that the filter and sealing element indicated broadly as 42 is at or near the cured to the skirts and through which the axles extend.

Anti-friction means to maintain the carriage in predetermined, horizontal position, comprises vertical rollers 65 which are disposed in openings 66 in the side skirts upon axles 67. These axles are supported by cross bars 68 extending across the opening 66 and being secured to the side skirts by bolts 69. The axles are held in place in the cross bars by means of nuts 71.

Means to reciprocate the carriage comprise a longi- 2) mounted upon a bar 76, flange portions 77 of which, are bolted to the side walls of the main frame as indicated at 78.

Pressure lines 79 and 81 at opposite ends of the cylinder and having valves 82 and 83, provide means whereby the piston 84 of the cylinder may be operated by fluid pressure. A piston rod 85 attached to the piston 84 is connected at its forward end to bracket 86 bolted as indicated at 87 upon the under face of the carriage platform 58a so that by admission of fluid to the cylinder 75 through lines 79 and 81, the piston rod and the attached carriage may be reciprocated as may be required, and as will subsequently be more fully described.

Means to support a container, such as, a drum 89 in horizontal position upon the platform 58a of the carriage 58 comprises a pair of spaced arms 91 which are mounted freely to rotate intermediate of their length and outside the main frame '20, upon an axle 92, disposed transbottom of the container. When the screw conveyor 29 is operated under such conditions as to exert a hydrostatic head of pressure as required for the packing of the material in the container in accordance with this invention, it will be apparent that the pressure tending to rotate the arms 91 backward about shaft 92, is quite substantial.

In order to prevent such rotation, an appropriate latch mechanism is required. This mechanism is attached to lower extensions 103 of arms 91 below axle 92, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing. The extensions 103 as-v will be observed in exploded view Fig. 4 are provided with a pair of welded or otherwise securely mounted blocks, 104 and 105, which are spaced to receive between them, the rear end of a latch 106. Each of the latter elements is bored as at 108 at its rear end to receive a pin 108a which can be dropped through a bore 109 into position to provide a pintle for the latch. The pintle at its lower extremity, also enters a bore 111 extending partly through the block 105. At their swinging ends, the latches 106 are provided with detents or hook portions 112 adapted to engage vertical bars 113 rigidly bolted upon the side skirts 61 of the carriage 58 to prevent rotation of the arms while the container is being filled. It will be apparent that the bars 113 also act as limit stops engaging extensions 103 to prevent the arms 91 from tilting too far forward during, or prior to a filling operation.

The pressure of the pulverulent material also tends to force carriage 58 away from the filtering and sealing head 42 with but little packing pressure upon the mate. rial. In order yieldably to resist such pressure, pressure may be exerted in the forward (piston rod) and of the cylinder 75. This pressure may be adjusted to obtain any reasonable degree of variation of the packing of the material in the container. As the packing operation is continued, the container is allowed to move away from the hopper 24. As the container approaches the limit of its backward movement, but while the tube 52 is still within the container, it is desirable to stop the motor 39. This pause permits the gaseous fluid which may be under pressure within the container to escape before the sealing tube 52 is deflated. Means automatically to stop the motor when the container is at desired point in its backward travel, comprises a limit switch indicated diagrammatically at 115. This is mounted upon a bracket 115a, secured (preferably longitudinally adjustably) upon the side of frame 20 and is provided with a button or other contact element 115b adapted to be engaged by cam 1150, of skirt 61 of carriage 58 in its travel to shut off the electrical current of the motor 39. Chamber D is then vented through line 57a and after the pressure in the container has dropped sufliciently, valve 53a is operated and the tube 52 is deflated and pressure is admitted to the cylinder 75 to cause the carriage to move backwardly, and filtering structure from the container.

Atthis stage, it is desirable that the latch 106 be reg,

To this end, the bars 98 and thus completing the retraction of the sealing pressure is attained by backing up of the material between the filter disc 43a (or its foraminous coverings 46 and 46a) and the body of material in the container.

Theoretically, there is no particular upper limit to the speed of rotation of conveyor 29 except that, with a hopper feed as shown, at excessively high speeds, the pulverulent material is thrown away from the feed end of the screw without being carried forward into the pump tube 26. When the screw conveyor 29 is rotated at about 1400 to 2000 r.p.m., there appears to be a large amount of slippage between the surface of the screw and the ma rterial being conveyed. For example, the average rate of travel is only about 25 percent of the theoretical value it would have if the material acted as a solid mass rather than a viscous fluid.

As the screw conveyor is operated as above described, the pulverulent material is rapidly packed to a high density, any air in the mass escapes through the filter cloth 46a where suspended material is almost completely removed.

As previously indicated, a braking action upon the backward movement of the container can be set up by use of high pneumatic pressures in tube 52 thus producing a strong frictional drag on the surface of the container. It is usually better, however yieldably to counterbalance the hydrostatic pressure exerted against the bottom of the container by the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

In this operation, the pressure exerted by the pulverulent material tends to rotate the arms 91 about shaft 92, a movement which is prevented by latch 106, engaging bar 113. Thrust is thus transmitted to the carriage 58 and is yieldably resisted by the piston 84 in cylinder 75. The pressure over the relatively large surface in the container overcomes the pressure upon the piston and the container is forced away from the filtering and sealing member 42 until it (the container) is adequately filled. The screw conveyor is then stopped, and the piston 84 is operated to clear the mouth of the container from the filtering and sealing element.

At this stage, pressure is admitted to cylinder 124 to retract piston 132, thus rotating shaft 92 and causing arms 114 to swing upwardly, partially to fold the mouth of the liner and also to'contact pins 119 with-pins 121, thus releasing latches 106 from bars 113.

Continued movement of arms 114 engages extensions 116 with the set screws 104a in the side of blocks 104 on the extension, 103 of arms thus causing the arms 91 to rotate on shaft 92. The bars 135 also slide forward during this cycle and as the arms 91 and the load thereupon approach dead center, the step portions 139 hook upon the edges of the block 104 positively to prevent the arms from abruptly falling back to the position represented at A.

The container is then removed from rollers 145, the motion of shaft 92 is reversed to return the arms 91 to their initial position. A fresh container is placed upon arms 98 and the cycle is repeated.

In the foregoing operation, the switch of the drive motor and the valves controlling the pressure cylinders 75 and 124 may be operated manually if desired. They obviously may also be provided with automatic controls constructed to operate them in proper sequence.

By use of the foregoing apparatus a very high degree of packing can be attained. A conventional drum that will hold about 150 pounds of a Well known pulverulent material when subjected to efficient vacuum compaction, will hold almost 200 pounds when it is packed with the foregoing apparatus. Indeed, it is quite possible with the foregoing apparatus, to pack many materials so tightly as to cause a tendency to caking. This may be undesirable, but can be obviated by reducing the back pressure upon the carriage 58, exerted by cylinder 75 and its piston 84.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated the use of an attachment for into the container is not required or is not practicable.- This device is especially suitable for use to pack pulverulent material -into pails or other shallow containers or where the mouth of the container is restricted, as for instance, by an annular, internal flange, such as is used with some press fit lids. I

The container to be filled, as shown in Fig. 5, comprises a body 160 and an annulus 161 partially closing the mouth of the container and being designed to receive a conventional, press fit lid (not shown);

Sealing means for the mouth of-the container while it is beingfilled, is shown as comprising an annular disc 162 which preferably is of flexible material, such as rubber or a flexible plastic. If desired, it may be foamed or cellulated to increase its yieldability to pressure. It may be attached to the sealing and filtering head 42 by appropriate means (not shown) or as shown in the drawing, it may be provided about its inner perimeter with an axially-extending flange 163 adapted to engage the mouth or side of the container.

This sealing disc 162 may be applied to the mouth of the container to be filled. The container is then brought over the discharge end of the tube 26 so that the sealing disc is pressed against the face of the filter. The container may be held in place while it is being filled manually, or if preferred, it may be disposed upon the arms 98. The pressure between the container and the disc 162 is then maintained by appropriate operation of the carriage 58. At the end of the filling operation, the disc 162 is removed for reuse.

The foregoing apparatus is shown in Figs. 1 through 4 as being disposed in horizontal position. This is primarily a matter of convenience adapting the mechanism for operation as a portable unit adapted to be shoved under bins or hoppers of particular type; namely, those where vertical clearance is limited. It will be apparent that the principles of fluid flow in packing pulverulent material in containers, as described in connection with containers in vertical position.

In fact, such vertical packing where practicable, permits of simplification of the apparatus because it is then not necessary to tilt the packed containers from the horizontal to the vertical position. Tilting mechanisms or the arms 91 may then the filtering and sealing head in the container to get maximum packing, the filter may be provided with a sealing tube designed to fit over the outside of the container.

It has been described to operate the apparatus by maintaining the filling tube (26) and the head 42 in fixed position while moving the container to be packed relative to the filtering and sealing head. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, if preferred, the container itself may be maintained in fixed position and the packing mechanism including the tube 26 and filtering and sealing head 42 may be moved up to the container.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for packing pulverulent material into a container, comprising a horizontal screw conveyor of substantially less diameter than the container to be packed, a filter diaphragm disposed about the discharge end of the conveyor and being adapted to fit within the container, a toroidal pneumatic tube disposed about the filter diaphragm providing a seal between the edges of the same and the contiguous walls of the container, guide means spaced below, but parallel to the screw conveyor, a-carriage reciprocably mounted upon the guide means, arms to support a container to be packed and being a hinged to the carriage to rotate upon a horizontal axis either horizontalrposition while it' is being packed or in vertical-position aftenitis -packed,i1arms also hinged to the carriage to swing'subst'antial1y inthe same direction as the first-mentioned arms; means tooperate the latter .v 5:

arms to fold the mouthofa flexible liner. projectingfrom a container Whilethe latter is inhorizontal position after it is packed,whereby toprevent loss of pulverulenimaterial from the container and means subsequently to swing the first rnenti neld arms to bring thegcontainer to'vertical' position, saidfcarriagebeing further provided with means to reciprocate the same tojinsert the screw convcyor into a container in horizontal position uponjthe first mentioned arms and being yieldable to resist backward ri ovementof rial under fluid like flew, afilter diaphragm disposed about the discharge endof tl e conveyor and being adapted to fit within the contaiher to be fill cd, toroidalpnew' matic tube about the filter diaphragm providing a seal between the edges of thesame and the contiguous walls of the containen guide means spaced belowpbut p a rallei to the conveyor, a carriage reciprocably rnountedupon the guide means, arms tosupport a containerto be filled,

the arms being hingedto the carriage to rotate upon a horizontal axis transverse of :the carriage, mea ns to tilt"? the arms substantially between'a'horizontal position and D vertical position whcreby'to holda'container either the Carriage as the container is filledand mea ns'to drive said screw. conveyor at a speed to impel'the puiverulent material under a fluid-like hydrostatic pressure exerted in all directions between the diaphragm and the material packed in the container."

2. Apparatusfor packing pulverulent material into a container; comprising a-hjorizontal screw conveyor of substantiallyless diameter than the container to be packed;

a filter diaphragin disposed about thedischarge end of I horizontal position while it isbeingffilled or vertical i 1 position after it is filled, alatchfor locking the arms I upon the carriage whereby to prevent rotation thereof due to pressure exerted on the bottom of the container the conveyor and being adapted to fit within the con-" tainer' a toroidaljpneumatic tube about the filter diaphragmf-providinga seal'betweenj the edges of the same and thecontiguous'walls of the'container, guide means spacedbelowfbutparallel'to*'the screw conveyor, a bar riage reciprocably mounted upon the guide meansyarms hinged-to the cairiage t'o'rotateupon a horizontal axis transverse ofithe carriage,gthe arms being tiltable substanti al'lybetween horiiontalposition and vertical position, the arms being adapted to swing to; holda container in either horizontal'position or vertical position, folding anms fals o hinged to the carriage to-swing substantially in the same directionas the first-mentioned arms,*mcans to operate the folding arms to'fold upwardly the mouth of a linenprojecting from acontainer while the latter is' in horizontal position and meansisubsequently to swing the first-mentioned arms to bring the containerto verticalposition and comprising a lost motion connection between the first mentioned arms and the second-mentioned arms whereby when said liner is folded and the secondmentionedarms are further operated; the first-mentioned arms are'swung as a unit with the second-mentioned arms l to bring the container thereupon to said vertical positionf 3. Apparatus for packing pulverulent material'into a container, said apparatus comprising a horizontal screwconveyor of substantially less diameter thangthe container to be packed, a filter diaphragmdisposed about the dischargeend "of the conveyor and being adapted durinjg la filling operation, means associated with the arms to releasesaid latch after the filling operation to permit the arms to be swung'tto bring the packed con- 1 H tainer to vertical position, means to reciprocate the carriage to advance a horizontal container carried by, the arms upon,for tore'mo've said containerfr'om'the screw conveyor.

rrer i f 's' e naai a 1! vh s s d wa i to swing the first-mentionediarms comprises means operable to connect the firstand second-mentioned arms togetheraft er the liner has been folded sothat they will swing as a unit.

ee ar s Pastin i lrstu sat m ter a i to. a, Q containe said apparatu comprising' a horizontalscrew conveyor f substantially less diameter than the container to be'packed, la filter diaphragmdisposed about thedis charge; ehd of the conveyor and being adapted to fii thereupon is being filled, a pair of folding arms rigidly secured upon the shaftand being adapted to fold *a liner v p end projecting from thecontainenmeans to rotate said";

" shaft when a container is fiiled; means associated with; I

the second-mentioned arm to release the means to latch the first-mentioned armsysaid carriage being provided to fit within the containerto be filled, a toroidal pneumatic tube disposed about the filter diaphragm and providing a seal between the edges of the same and the contiguous walls of the container, guide means spaced below, but parallel to the screw conveyor, a carriage reciprocably mounted upon the guide means, arms hinged to the carriage to rotateuponajhorizontal axis transverse of the carriage, the arms being tiltable substantially H between the horizontal position and vertical position,"

the arms being adapted to hold a container in either hori-' zontal position while it is being filled or to swing to holdit'in vertical position after it is filled, av latchfor locking the arms to the carriage whereby to prevent rotation thereof due to pressure exerted on the bottom of the container during a filling operation,- means mounted with means to reciprocate the same whereby to insert the screw conveyor into a container disposed upon the V first-mentioned arms and yieldably to resist backward movement of the carriage as the container is filled, and means to drive said screw conveyor at a speed to impel the pulverulent material under a fluid-like pressure ex I erted in all directions between the diaphragm and the material packed in the container:

upon the carriage to tilt the arms, ineansto release the latchfbfore the arms are tilted, means to reciprocate the carriage to move a horizontal container upon the arms to orfr'om the screw conveyor and means to drive the screw con'veyor at a speed to impel the pulverulent material into the container under hydrostatic pressure.

4 Appalratusfor packing pulverulent material into a q H V veyor' of substantially less diameter than the container to bepackea "and'tseis ada tea ts discharge the mateer, said appa atus comprising a horizontal conf 7. Apparatus for packing pulverulent material into; a

container comprising a horizontal screw conveyor of substantially less diameter than the container to, be

packed, a filter diaphragm disposed about the discharge end of the conveyor and being adapted-to fit within the container, a toroidal, pneumatic tube disposed about the filter diaphragmand providing a seal between the edges of the same and the contiguous walls of the container; guide means spaced below and parallel to thescrew sc on veyor, a carriage reciprocably'mounted upon the guide: means, a horizontal shaft disposed to rotate in bearings 1- upon' and transverse'of the carriageja pair of arms disposed to rotate upon the shaftgthe arms being adapted to support" a container'to be filled, means to latch said arms to prevent rotation thereof while a container thereupon'- l is beingfilled, a' pair-of arms rigidlysecured upon the a shaft and being adapted to fold a flexible liner-"end projecting from the container after the latter has been 13 filled, means to rotate said shaft when a container is filled, means associated with the second-mentioned arms to release the means to latch the first-mentioned arms, and means after the folding operation is completed to latch the first-mentioned arms and the second-mentioned arms together whereby they are rotated as a-unit upon further operation of the means to rotate said shaft, said carriage being provided with means to reciprocate the same to insert the screw conveyor into a container upon the first-mentioned arms and yieldable to resist backward movement of the carriage as the container is filled and means to drive said screw conveyor at a speed to impel the pulverulent material under a fluid-like pressure exerted in all directions between the diaphragm and the material packed in the container.

8. Apparatus for packing pulverulent material into a container, said apparatus comprising a horizontal tube for conveying the pulverulent material to be packed, means for forcing pulverulent material through the tube and discharging the same under semi-fluid flow and pres sure into the container, said tube having a filter diaphragm disposed about the discharge end thereof and means to seal between the edge of the diaphragm and the contiguous walls of the container, horizontal guide means disposed below and parallel to the tube, a carriage mounted to reciprocate upon the guide means a shaft mounted transversely of and in bearings fixed upon the carriage, arms adapted to support the container, to be filled in horizontal position and being disposed to rotate upon the shaft, means to latch the arms from rotation when the container is horizontal, a pair of arms for folding the projecting mouth of a liner for the container and being rigidly secured upon the shaft, means to rotate the shaft, means to release said latch when a container is filled, a lost motion means to lock the first-mentioned and the second-mentioned arms together so that they will rotate as a unit after the mouth of the liner has been folded and the shaft is further rotated to bring the container to vertical position and means to reciprocate the carriage to position a container while it is in horizontal position upon the first-mentioned arms, upon the filtering diaphragm, the latter means being yieldable to resist backward movement of the carriage as the container is filled.

9. A method of packing a pulverulent material into a container having a bottom and side walls, which method comprises mixing said pulverulent material with air in an amount to obtain a fluent mixture of the two, sealing a filter around a feed tube at the discharge end thereof, the filter having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the tube, inserting the outlet end of the tube with the filter thereupon into said container near the bottom thereof, sealing between the outer perimeter of the filter and the inner face of the container wall, continuously discharging a stream of said fluent mixture through the tube and starting in a zone near the bottom of the container, the material being discharged at a velocity to exert fluent pressure in all directions from the discharge end of the tube, passing the entrapped air through said filter and holding back the pulverulent material, whereby the pulverulent material is packed between the bottom of the container and the inner face of the filter over substantially the entire area of each, backing off the filter at a rate which develops the desired packing pressure and continuing to discharge the fluent mixture between it and the packed material in the bot tom of the container until the latter is filled to the desired degree.

10. In a method of packing pulverulent material in a container by means of a screw conveyor, the steps of inserting the conveyor coaxially into the container substantially to the bottom thereof, driving the conveyor at a speed of about 1000 r.p.m. to about 3000 rpm. to introduce suflicient air to fiuidize the pulverulent material the entire section of the container, whereby to pack-the material into the container across the entire section thereof, passing entrapped air from the container as it is packed, through a filter and filtering the pulverulent material contained therein, and increasing thespacing of the filter and the bottom of the container as the material is packed, while exerting sufiicient resistance to the spacing movement to pack the material to the desired degree and density. l i

11. Apparatus for pack-inga pulverulent material ina container, comprising a horizontal screw conveyor of substantially lesser diameter than the container to be packed,

a filter diaphragm sealed about the discharge end of the.

conveyor and being adapted to fit within the container, a sealing element disposed about the diaphragm, providing a seal between the walls of the container and the diaphragm, guide means spaced from, but parallel to the screw conveyor, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted upon the guide means and supporting the container to be filled substantially coaxially with respect to the conveyor with the bottom of the container initially near the discharge end of the conveyor, said carriage being disposed to move the container coaxially onto the conveyor, means yieldably to resist backward movement of the carriage due to pressure exerted in packing the pulverulent material into the container, and means to drive the conveyor at a speed of about 1000 rpm. to about 3000 r.p.m. to introduce sufficient air to fluidize the pulverulent material and to exert fluent pressure between the face of the material in the container and the contiguous face of the diaphragm substantially across the entire width thereof, and means upon the carriage for tilting the container from horizontal to vertical position after the container has been filled.

12. The method of packing pulverulent material into a container, which method comprises forcing the material into said container by a screw conveyor operating in an enclosed tube at a speed of about 1000 r.p.m. to about 3000 r.p.m. to introduce sufiicient air to fluidize the pulverulent material and to impart fluid flow to the material while maintaining a filtering seal between the tube and the side walls of the container, and passing the entrapped air from the mixture through the seal and removing suspended pulverulent material from the air.

13. In an apparatus for packing aerated pulverulent material into a container, ahorizontal screw conveyor disposed in a feed tube, a diaphragm element sealed upon the end of the feed tube and being of a size sufficient to fit within a container to be filled, a sealing element disposed about the diaphragm and filtering means associated with the diaphragm allowing air to escape from the container while it is being filled, and filtering pulverulent material in suspension while air is escaping, and means to drive the screw conveyor at a speed of about 1000 r.p.m. to about 3000 r.p.m. to introduce sufiioient air to fiuidize the pulverulent material before it is introduced into the container.

14. A machine for packing pulverulent material into containers, said machine comprising a horizontal screw conveyor disposed in a feed tube of a cross-section less than the cross-section of the container to be packed, a carriage for moving the container onto the screw conveyor so that the discharge end of the conveyor is near the bottom of the container, at filtering head disposed on the tube normal to the axis of the screw conveyor and being contiguous to the discharge end of the conveyor, said filtering head being provided with a filter-like diaphragm sealed thereabout, and having a sealing element disposed between the diaphragm and the side walls of the container, said diaphragm permitting air entrapped in the space between the filtering head and the container to mcape as the container is packed with pulverulent material, and to retain pulverulent material borne by the escaping air, means to rotate the screw conveyor at a speed of about 1000 r.p.m. to about 3000 rpm. to introduce sufficient air to fluidizethe-pulverulent material and to force the pulverulentmaterial into the container under fluent pressure extending-over the entirecrosssection of thercontainer, and means yieldablyrto resist movementofthe carriage duetosback pressureiexerted by the material between'the filtering head and the bottom of the'container as the material is packed into thecont-ainer.

7 15; In amethodofgpacking pulverulentmaterialin a container'bygneanstofla screw conveyor, said conveyor being disposed in a feed tube, the tube l'iaving.afilterirn; head sealedupon the discharge end thereof, said head being formed to, provide a seal between the discharge end of the conveyor. and the sidewalls of the container-, said headfurther having atfilter :for removing pulverulent I material suspendedinthe air entrappedin the container; the. stepsofinsertingitheiconveyor coaxially into the container with the discharge-end thereof having the filtering head disposed contiguous to the bottom of the container, rotating-the conveyor at a speed of about 1000 rpm. to about 3000 rpm. to introduce sufiicient air to fiuidize the pulverulent material and to exert fluent pressure across the entire section of the container,-.whereby to force air from the material and to pack the/material into the container across the entire section thereof, and toforce. air escaping from the container through the filter, and removing-suspended pulverulent material from the escaping air, and backingottithe container while exerting sufiic-ient resistance to the backing movement to paclcthe material in the 1 container,

, References- Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 225,028 Strauh Mar. 2, 1880 295,863 Ellithorp Mar.'25, 1884 367,857 Smith Aug. 9, 1887 494,979 Dawson Apr. 4,1893 653,760 Webjornsen 'July17, 1900 821,463 Cornwall Ma 22, 1906 924,240 Merritt Feb. 15, 19-10 949,240 Merritt Feb. 15, 1910 2,142,990 Belcher Jan. 10, 1939 2,630,248 Hinz Mar.'3, 1953 2,775,267 Stirn et al. Dec. 25, 1956 

